Children’s Sermon

Mark 1:14-20

What’s the Attraction?

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Fishing pole, tackle, and various types of bait.

Fishermen are patient people. They cast their line into the water and wait for a fish to swim by and bite the hook. A plain hook does not interest most fish. There must be something on the hook that attracts the fish’s attention.

People who do a lot of fishing have many ideas about what works best to attract the attention of a fish. What they use for bait often depends upon what type of fish they are trying to catch. Sometimes it is the color of the lure on the line that attracts a fish. Sometimes is it actual food that a fish likes to eat such as a worm. Sometimes a “fly” is fashioned out of thread and small feathers to look like a real fly or other type of insect.

If you ask a person who likes to fish what is the best bait to use, most are eager to tell you what works best.

When Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew fishing. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men” (1:17).

The Bible tells us that immediately they left their fishing nets and followed him. He went on a little farther and saw James and his brother, John in their boat mending nets and he asked them to follow him as well and immediately they did.

What do you think it was that attracted these men to Jesus? What made them want to be his disciples? They saw God’s great love in Jesus and were willing to follow him. It is the same today; love causes people to follow Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples that he would teach them how to “fish for people.” He showed all of us that the way to do that is to have God’s love in our lives and share it with others.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007 Richard Niell Donovan